The Great West Coast Road Trip: Day 2 - Portland

I heard that when you're in Portland, a must-do is breakfast at Mother's Bistro.  A homey place with chandeliers, old brick and white bead board walls and old hardwood floors.

John had the tofu scramble hash, I had the portabella scramble.  The potatoes were so delicious.

 

Over to the Portland Outdoor Store, a huge store filled with boots, cowboy hats, and western wear.

I got my first pair of cowboy boots!  Red!  John bought a Levi's denim jacket lined with fleece.

The clerks were so nice.  In fact, everyone we meet in Portland is super friendly.  It's almost shocking!

Today's main activity was to hike in the Columbia River Gorge.  We hiked the 5 mile Multnomah-Wahkeena loop, with 10 big waterfalls and many smaller ones.  

Sometimes the climb was pretty steep, but we were rewarded with amazing views.  

The pictures just couldn't do it justice.  It reminded us of stepping into Endor and Rivendale, with the tallest of redwoods and moss covered rock walls.  

When walking near a waterfall, the temperature drops and gets so cool.  

By the end, we still felt great, thanks to our last-minute trip to REI before we left home.  We both got hiking boots and hiking pants.  John is modeling his not-nerdy-at-all hiking hat and convertible pants/shorts.  

Worked up an appetite and so headed over to SW Portland's Blossoming Lotus, thanks to a recommendation from Ryan Jones (shout out, hey!)  Sat outside and enjoyed the neighborhood.

Sweet corn cakes with spicy tomato relish, lime coriander cream, and herb salad

House made seitan steak, smoky fingerling potato hash, green beans, chimichurri,  and harissa aioli

Drove over to Nob Hill to see the Victorian houses.  Passed Salt and Straw, and had to try their famously inventive ice cream flavors.

You could sample as many as you liked (they encouraged it), but John ended up loving the Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbon and I went with the Almond Brittle Salted Ganache.  Walked around the cute area on 23rd Street, but unfortunately we got there a little later in the day and the shops were closing.

One of the stores that was open was a Petsmart, where the friendly cashier came out to talk to us and let us play with the kittens for adoption.  

One more full day in Portland, and we don't have anything planned except for our food (we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner already set).  You see where our priorities are.